Wabeno Man Charged in Federal Court with Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 17, 2012 charging Lance M. Tahwa, age 28, of Wabeno, Wisconsin, with one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to the indictment, the incident took place on the Menominee Indian Reservation on March 17, 2012. An arraignment was held before the Honorable James R. Sickel on April 23, 2012. If convicted of the attempted aggravated sexual abuse charge, Tahwa faces up to life imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to life on supervised release. If convicted of the assault resulting in serious bodily injury charge, he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, and three years’ supervised release. A jury trial has been scheduled for June 25, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. before the Honorable William C. Griesbach.

The case stems from an investigation by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William Roach has been assigned to prosecute the case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.